Santiago’s new terminal welcomes first passengers
After five years in the making, the new US$990 million, 248,400-square-meter terminal has finally opened in Santiago. The terminal welcomed its first passengers on February 28, after the inauguration ceremony took place on February 26, with Sebastián Piñera, President of the Republic of Chile, performing the inauguration.
The official opening also welcomed Xavier Lortat-Jacob, general manager of Nuevo Pudahuel consortium, a partnership involving Groupe ADP, VINCI Airports and Astaldi Concessioni, which has operated the airport under a 20-year concession since February 2015.
The new terminal will increase the capacity of the airport to 38 million PAX, and will greatly reduce waiting times, with 96 automatic check-in kiosks, 64 bag drop counters, 40% more immigration counters for borders controls, and a new baggage handling system. This investment is a long-term commitment to Chile’s economic growth.
In addition to the increased capacity and reduced waiting times the terminal offers, it also includes new commercial, dining and services areas, such as a nursery room and an exhibition hall.
Santiago De Chile airport is one of the first in the region to join Level 2 of the Airport Carbon Accreditation delivered by Airports Council International, with a strong focus toward reduced energy consumption. Efforts include more than 10,000 airport LED lights, which have reduced lighting energy consumption by 70%, and the addition of six new electric buses.
A photovoltaic plant with a capacity of 826KW on the roof of the existing terminal has been commissioned. This will help reduce the airport’s carbon footprint by 40% by 2030, and the airport will achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
Additionally, more than seven hectares have now been reforested on the airport ground, and the airport has donated over 600 trees to the municipality of Pudahuel.
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